Football

Sally and I went "South" last weekend.  My Aunt Betty and Uncle Alex were coming in from FL and the kids had Friday off --- plus Bill was having a Garage Sale here so Sal and I decided on Thurs night that we would leave Friday and go for a visit. 

We happened to hit the weekend that QND (Quincy Notre Dame) played Illini West (Carthage and surrounding area).   They are both ranked #1 in their divisions and they haven't ever played each other.  "Uncle" Brad is the Principal of Illini West High School and "Uncle" Mick is big in QND and his kids will be going there. 

Some of you may not know the whole hatred of QND.  If you're a Bear's Fan think of QND as the Packers.  You know, you always root for the Bears and ANYONE who plays the Packers.  QND is HATED "down south".  They have been ever since my Dad was an athlete and they were called Christian Brothers.  They usually have good teams (and they've been accused of paying for those teams) AND they really could benefit from being jacked up and having a little humility run under them.  :-)   

This game was so hyped up ALL week.  There were news crews there with all the satellites and vans and such.  They played at Illini West.  My Nephew - "Uncle" Brad was very concerned that if QND (which everyone was betting on) would do their customary *Victory Dance* on IW's field and that there could really be problems.  I'm not kidding when I say this game was one of the biggest things to happen down there this year. 

Aunt Jill , Sally and I picked up Uncle Mike and truckstered over to Carthage about an hour and half before game time.  There was to be a JV game prior and we knew it would be hell to find a seat.  Mr Gooding ("Uncle" Brad) had saved a nice parking place for his Mom and Dad so we didn't have to walk too far at all.  We did have to split up, though.  There were no seats where Uncle Mike's chair would fit with 4 around him.  So Sal and I sat in the Cheering Section.  :-) 

According to the count there was close to 5,000 people there that night.  FANTASTIC game.  And yes, Illini West won.  I love Mick dearly and especially his kids - but I don't think I can *ever* cheer for QND.  Sal and I had a ball.  We yelled and cheered and clapped and at one point the cheerleaders threw out suckers and one of the kids caught one and gave it to Sal saying "I have to give this to you because you're wearing a Cubs shirt".  :-)  So not ALL "down home" boys are stupid and like Cardinals.  :-) 

We had plenty of time to get food and Sal bought an Illini West shirt with Charger on it.  At half time we watched the band - which was conducted by the Band Teacher that directed Brad and Mick at Southeastern and now works for Brad.  (ain't life amazing)   They were GOOD.  But Ms Linda has ALWAYS gotten great music out of kids.  We had a baton twirler in front of us and I explained that Aunt Jill used to twirl too but that her baton was on fire...... at that exact moment the twirler hit the ground and lit 2 batons and started twirling!  Sal and I were pleased.  :-)   What a fun night. 

When the game was over and QND was licking their wounds and Brad's kids were dreaming of the blizzards that their Uncle Mick had bet them - we got to talk to Mr Gooding and I do believe he could have floated away.  He was SO happy that they had won.  We all were - except Mick.  :-)  Mick takes a lot of razzing but he's a good egg, and a good sport. 

LOTS of county cops helped direct traffic out of the school and then as we were taking Uncle Mike back to the Nursing Home we saw lots of county cops taking radar - going to get those QND people on their way back to Quincy.  I'm not kidding when I used the word HATE.  :-) 

If only that had been my only encounter with Cops that weekend.  Yes, I got a ticket.  On my way from my Mom's to my Sister's.  There's a nice flat stretch of highway where you can see forever and I'll have you know I'm not the only one who has been stopped there.  I am the only one in the family though.  :-/
And on top of that he didn't even ask where I was going or where I was coming from - because I was all ready to pull the Gooding / Beckett last name card.  :-)  When you're related to people who are well known and liked - you use it.  :-) 

Now, as most of you know - Sal LOVES COPS.  As in the TV show.  Now, on COPS the show - EVERYONE goes to jail - no one gets a ticket....soooooooo..... as he's walking back to his car after stopping me and getting my license and insurance info, I turn around and she's all huddled up with her monkey in her hands and stammering "Are you going to jail???"  

Oh My!   Thank God it took him a while to write me up - I was busy explaining a "ticket".  All Sal knows is a ticket is a good thing - gets you on a ride or lets you get a prize.  Ughhhh.   So we got it all straightened out and on our way to Aunt Jill's.  Since Aunt Jill wasn't home - I wrote out my check and headed to Bowen to mail it.  Sally was quite concerned that he took my license so I figured I'd show her exactly how this all works.  What adventures we have.  :-)

Saturday night we had a huge wiener roast at my cousins' house.  Her and her husband bought the farm that my Grandma used to live on.  It was strange Grandma used to live on.  It was strange seeing it again.  Why is everything always so SMALL when you become an adult?  As a kid her house was HUGE.  Anyway, we had a great time.  My Cousin's husband is a big hunter and we got to see all his hunting dogs.  He has some really pretty blue tick hounds and of course some rat terriers.  Mabel would have been in heaven.  The blue ticks have much deeper howl than Mabe's.  I might need to take her for lessons.  :-)

Seeing my Aunt Betty with my Mom and Aunt Joan is funny.  It's so like me and my family.  Betty is a lot younger than the other sisters too.  There was a lot of us and I tried to explain how everyone went together to Sal... not sure she got it all - but she had a good time nonetheless.  :-)

Mabel didn't get to go south with us.  She ran away on Thursday afternoon and spent the weekend in doggie jail at Animal Control. Tiny and Chunk both cried when they found out she wasn't coming.  :-)

When we returned to Bolingbrook we found that the house was a wreck and the Daddy of Sal's Little People was missing!  Oh, there was hell to pay!  :-)   The good thing was that Bill had made enough on the garage sale to cover my ticket.  ;-)

Helping With Reading

Since my recent "unfortunate unemployment", I emailed the teachers I know and told them that I was available and wouldn't mind helping in any way I could.  I think I hardly hit the send button before hearing back.  :-)  I'm now helping with Guided Reading in JES 5th grade.  It is a GREAT time.  I have a good group of kids and I love the books that were picked out.  There's something about just being at school that puts me in a good mood.  Probably because I'm not in charge of teaching them, or guiding them.  :-)  I have the life of a Grandmother when I think about it.  I get them for an hour - I can wind them up and then send them back.
:-)  Anyway.....

As I was talking to Jack about being there - I'm in a hallway that Jack doesn't go down often - he asked if I could eat lunch with him after I was done helping.  "I'll buy your lunch if you want to eat with me, Mom."

Is that not cute?  He'll buy my lunch with the card that he gets from school with my money.  :-)  Oh, he's so like his father.  :-)

Magic Class Truly Magical

Jack had a Magic class at the Park District last night, and as I was sitting in the waiting area I noticed there were JBSRA members floating around .  A Special Needs team then walked in and asked where the gym was, so I decided to go find out what they were playing and watch for a while.  As I approached the gym I saw Aaron, Mark, Kelly and a lot of the other people we know from Adult Basketball.  They were playing volleyball so I took a seat and watched. 

As usual, I teared up.  I just love to watch them.  The vast majority of special needs people are by far the most inspirational, happy, and positive people on the planet.  They make you acutely aware of what's REALLY important in the world.  They take the world truly as it is.  I always feel very honored to share the world with them. 

When I picked up Jack from his Magic class I asked if he'd want to go watch.  Well, of course.  :-)  I really like that about Jack.  He seems so at ease to celebrate with others and to high five adults he only knows through Sal's things. 

The funniest thing was that night when we got home and showed Bill and Sally all of Jack's magic.  After the whole "show" was done Jack had things for me to sign school the next day and when I asked Sally what number the day was and she answered, Jack popped off with "Sally, how do you always know what day it is?"
"I'm magic, Jack" she replied with the most sober face.

Boy, ain't THAT an understatement!  ;-)

Mabel Blog

http://www.mabelthemenace.blogspot.com/     I've started a Mabel blog.  I have NO idea where it's going to take me.  Come, lets journey together. :-)